'Ambitious' play

Ancelotti suggested a year ago that top clubs including Madrid would skip the Club World Cup, but was forced to backtrack, and with the winner bagging as much as $125 million, victory is important to the Spanish giant.

After Barcelona reclaimed La Liga on the way to wrapping up a domestic treble, beating Madrid four times in the process, Madrid would also welcome some success to raise morale and increase belief before the new campaign.

Problems that Ancelotti faced are now in Alonso's in-tray, and the Club World Cup is the first chance for him to attempt to solve them.

The Italian complained about a lack of balance because of the top-heavy attack, and Alonso has already suggested Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than previously.

A classy midfielder at Madrid and Liverpool in his playing days, Alonso must find a way of playing both Vinicius and Mbappe without causing Madrid too many problems at the back.